Charming Kitten works at Churchill Downs. April 21, 2013

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Ken Ramsey sets a new owners record at Keeneland by winning the first race of the day at Keeneland with Scealeile. Joel Rosario aboard and Mike Maker trained. Three generations of Ramseys led in the winning horse during the 2013 Keeneland Spring Meet / Keeneland Photo

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They’re rolling their eyes at Ken Ramsey again, the thoroughbred racing critics wondering why a horse named Charming Kitten who never has raced on dirt will try it for the first time in the Kentucky Derby.

After all, they’ve seen this before with the sons of Ramsey’s beloved Kitten’s Joy. There was Dean’s Kitten, who finished 14th in the 2010 Derby. There was Derby Kitten, not much better — 13th in the 2011 Derby.

But the 77-year-old Ramsey is unapologetic. Yes, he admits, he has “Derby Fever.” He’s fond of saying, “I’d have to put that on my tombstone,” if he ever won the Kentucky Derby.

But Ramsey says he’s not running Charming Kitten in next week’s Derby just because he can.

“I wouldn’t put in some sprinter who has no shot,” said Ramsey, a native of the small town of Artemus, Ky. “This horse can flat get the distance. … That won’t be a problem. It’s simply a matter of whether he can transform to the dirt.

“I think there’s a 10 to 15 percent chance of rain, and he might love the slop. It might be like ‘Mine That Kitten’ on the outside instead of (2009 Derby winner) Mine That Bird on the inside.”

Charming Kitten figures to be a long shot in the 139th Run for the Roses despite a solid 2-2-2 record in seven career starts.

Five of those came on the turf, with the other two coming on Keeneland’s Polytrack. His last race was a third-place finish in Keeneland’s Blue Grass Stakes, giving Charming Kitten the 20 points he needed to qualify for the Derby.

Ramsey admitted surprise that Charming Kitten has reached this point. “I never thought this one would end up in the Derby,” Ken Ramsey said. “But it’s like Jerry Bailey used to say: ‘Ken, I’ll take whatever they’ll give me.’ We kind of lucked into it, but we also put ourselves in position to get lucky. Maybe they’ll start calling me ‘Lucky Ken.’”

Ken and his wife, Sarah, have enjoyed plenty of luck over the years. They’re the winningest owners in Churchill Downs history and have set a Keeneland record this spring with 19 victories after picking up two more wins on Wednesday.

But Ken Ramsey says winning the Derby is on top of his bucket list, and the fact that he’s outspoken about it rubs some people the wrong way.

“Sometimes I put my foot in my mouth and say things that aren’t politically correct, but I don’t make up stories or create things,” Ramsey said. “I tell it like it is. If the shoe fits, wear it. If not, don’t wear it.”

Todd Pletcher, the colt’s trainer, said Ramsey is refreshingly honest.

“I’d say he’s definitely more vocal about it, but I honestly think most owners that are in the business at least have that Derby dream,” Pletcher said. “... I think it’s great when someone is in the business of owning horses and they get excited about having a horse that’s in the Kentucky Derby.”

And for those that believe Ramsey isn’t practical about Charming Kitten’s chances, consider that he already has future plans for the horse outside of the Triple Crown trail. Ramsey plans to send the horse to Royal Ascot for the St. James Palace Stakes in June.

“It’s on my bucket list to try to win a race over there, too,” Ramsey said. “On the slight chance we’re not in the Preakness after winning the Derby, we’ll send him over there.”